Jack Metcalfe

The multi-talented Australian sportsman Jack Metcalfe competed in various field events and had his best results in the triple jump. Representing the Sydney University Athletics Club, Metcalfe competed at the 1934 British Empire Games in London. He won gold in the triple jump and bronze in the long jump, in addition to finishing fourth in the high jump. The following December he set a world record in the triple jump with 15.78 at a meet in Sydney, with the record standing until August 1936.

In 1936 Metcalfe travelled to England where he won the high jump and triple jump titles at the British AAA Championships. These results secured him a place on the Australian Olympic team for the Berlin Games. He competed in the high jump, finishing 12th, but had better success in the triple jump where he won bronze, finishing behind the Japanese pair of Naoto Tajima and Masao Harada. The irony was that Metcalfe had trained with the Japanese athletes, giving them tips on how to improve their techniques, much to the chagrin of the German officials, who thought he was coaching them too much. His bronze was also the only medal won by the entire Australian delegation at the Berlin Olympics.

One year after the Olympics Metcalfe had double success at the national championships when he won the triple jump and javelin titles. These results provided ideal preparation ahead of the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, which saw him win gold in the triple jump and bronze in the javelin. At the same Games he also finished fifth in the long jump and seventh in the high jump. Metcalfe was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1998.

Personal Bests: HJ – 1.99 (1934); TJ – 15.78 (1935).